The Expanding Fantasy Sports Industry

Kevin Waida currently works as a staff member on the Gustin Golf Course, having previously spent time with the Columbia Golf Foundation in Columbia, Missouri. In his free time, Kevin Waida likes to play basketball and participate in fantasy football leagues.

When visiting Yahoo Sports or the ESPN website, some individuals may be surprised to find a large portion of articles focused on fantasy sports, rather than the actual professional sports upon which these fantasy leagues are based. Fantasy leagues continue to eclipse the popularity and profitability of the nation’s most successful sporting enterprise. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA), roughly 32 million Americans take part in fantasy leagues to the tune of $15 billion every year. About $11 billion is spent on fantasy football, compared to less than $10 billion annually for the National Football League (NFL), making the derivative market a greater source of profit.

The FSTA reports that the typical fantasy football team manager dedicates three hours per week to his or her team. With 23 million individuals playing a 17-week season, that equates to 1.2 billion hours spent on fantasy football in America. With expenditures and ad revenue figured into the fantasy football market, the industry’s value is estimated to be between $40 billion and $70 billion.